DHAKA: Turkish president Abdullah Gül has said it would be ‘unrealistic’ to have any discussion on the Syrian war without the inclusion of Iran, adding that Turkey and Iran were both directly involved in the ongoing process.

‘Frankly, it’s unrealistic to talk about Syria without Iran. There has yet to be a common understanding with Iran, but you cannot exclude it,’ Gül told reporters in New York, in which he highlighted ‘the new era’ in Iranian politics with the election of President Hassan Rohani.

Gül is in New York to represent Turkey at the 68th General Assembly meeting of the United Nations, where Syria will likely be the top item on his agenda.

He will meet Rohani and French president François Hollande on the sidelines of the event.

‘France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and has historic ties with Syria,’ Gül said, speaking of the importance of his meeting with Hollande.

BDST: 2024 HRS, SEPT 22, 2013
RoR/Jck